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Little Secrets
Chapter 9:
A Proposition
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Knock. Knock. Knock.
"Ben?"
Ben opened the door, "Yes Cap?" He was in the middle of getting dressed.
"Have you seen Lucas?"
Ben got a concern, but puzzled look, "No I haven't. I went over yesterday, but he wasn't home. Come to think of it, I haven't seen him since we first got here."
"Okay, I'll keep looking for him. If you see him, tell him I'm looking for him. I have a job he needs to do."
They said their bye's and the Bridger went off in the direction of the small store.
He awoke to someone gently shaking him. He sat up with a start and immediately covered his face protectively with his arms.
"Calm thy self, my son." Spoke a gentle old voice.
Lucas put his hands down and stood. "Sorry Pastor. I uhh, had a bad night. I needed to get away and, well, just get away."
The older looked truly concerned. He felt his stomach roll. He braced himself for the answer to the question he was about to ask. "Tim, was it because of your father you had to 'get away'?"
Lucas turned a light pink. "Well, yes sir."
"Did he.did he." he couldn't bring himself to say it.
Lucas looked down. "Yes sir."
"Is that why you did not come to see me yesterday?"
"Yes sir."
"Well, come to my office and lets see the damage."
The both went into the office, Lucas sat in the chair he had sat in last time, while the pastor shut and locked the door. He went over to Lucas and kneeled in front of him.
"Well young man, show me."
"Uhh, okay. I'm sorry to bother you!"
"It is now trouble at all. Now show me."
Lucas slowly took his long sleeved shirt off, causing a small gasp from the older. He gently grabbed the boys hands and looked over his wrists.
"Sir, that is not the.problem."
Matthew looked at him, only concern showing in his eyes. Letting go of the boy so he could continue. Lucas slowly, and painfully, took his shirt off. The priest made a very loud gasp this time.
"We must get you to a doctor!"
"NO!! I mean, I can't. Someone will find out!"
"Calm thy self. We will figure something out." He Carefully inspected the boy. Looking over his black and blue chest and all the marks on his back. "I think I know someone we can trust to help you. She is an old friend of mine, and she will do you good. We have to get your.sores looked at!"
Lucas made a small nod and began to put his shirts back on. He stood and made for the door. "I can not stay too long, he will already be angry at me for leaving and not coming back."
"Well, I don't think that you should go back! You should stay with me, and then we can see about someone else taking custody of you until you are of age!" He got a hopeful look on his face.
"I'm sorry sir, I know you mean well, but I.I..just can't! He would kill me."
"I will set a cot up in my spare room, you are welcome to sleep there. I am quite sure that it is more comfortable than the pew." He lead him to another door from his office. This door lead to a small hallway, and three more doors. The first on the left was the bathroom, the first on the right was the guest room, and the second on the left was his room.
"Thank you sir! I must leave now. I will came back later." He turned to go, but stopped at the door. "Talk to you friend please, but tell as least as possible!" He left then. It was now almost supper time and he knew that no matter what, if he went home he would get a beating. He decided to go eat first, something he had not done in almost two whole days.
Knock. Knock.
He heard scuffling around inside. He quickly made sure his wrists were not showing. The door opened.
"Yes?" Ben questioned.
"Hi."
"Lucas! Where have you been! Everyone has been looking for you. Your father told us that you started a fight with him last night and then ran off. Well don't stand there, come in."
-{Yea, I'm sure he would blame it on me, but if he is looking for me then I am real deep shit! Might as well enjoy this while I can.}-
"Thanks Ben. I'm hungry, got anything to eat?"
Ben closed the door behind him and went to the kitchen. He began to make a can of Noodle-O's, remembering them to be Luke's absolute favorite.
"So Luke, where have you been?"
"I, uhh, well, I was", he was eyeing the food hungrily, "I made a friend here, and we were just hanging out and talking about.things."
"Well the Cap has also been looking for you, he says he has a job for you."
"Yea, what is it?" He sat down at the small wooden kitchen table.
"I don't know, he did not say, but it sounded kind of important." He brought the pan over in front of Lucas and set it down on a hot pad. He then went and got a bowl and spoon and gave them to the teen. "Eat up."
Lucas did not need to be told twice. He quickly poured the whole pan into his bowl, almost overflowing it, and wolfed it down. He barely stopped to breath.
Ben went and grabbed a soda from the fridge and then took a chair across from his friend. He leaned back in his chair, starring at the kid.
Lucas was so observed in eating that he didn't notice the concerned look coming over Ben's face. He finished eating and gulped down his soda quickly. "Thanks a lot Ben, but can I have some more?" -{I guess being tied to a bed and being whipped with a belt and.well, just being locked inside for that long make you kind of hungry}-
"Of course you can kiddo! Have I ever told you no?" He stood and went to the kitchen and began making some peanut-butter and jelly sandwiches. He finished, grabbed two more soda's and sat back down at the table. He gave the sandwiches and one soda to Lucas. He leaned back in his chair and began to think deeply. He saw the young teen start to inhale his food, again.
"Wow, kid, you act like you haven't eaten in days" Lucas looked up, giggled nervously, then went back to eating, making sure not to eat too fast.
"Hey Luke?"
"Yea?" He replied with a mouth full of food.
"I want you to talk to me." Lucas just looked at him, blank expression worn on his face.
"Look, I know that something is going on, and I'm not sure of what. Back at the boat, you.you really got me worrying about you. I want to finish that conversation we started." Lucas quit eating and just stared at his food, as if it would reach out and bite him, or something. Ben thought about how risky it was to push, but he had to try and reach him somehow. There had to be a reason why he had made himself obsolete for the past day or two.
He dared to continue, "Your were saying something about your dad?" He got really serious now, "I felt like you thought I would hit you, when I grabbed your shoulders." He paused, "Look, I didn't mean to scare you, and make you FLINCH, but" he got cut off.
"Look Ben, I don't know what you are trying to do, but it won't work!" He was going to try and use anger to throw his friend off. "I don't have anything to say!" He began to raise his voice. "I don't want to talk about it and you can't make me! What happens in MY life is MINE ONLY to know!" He abruptly stood and headed for the door.
"Now hold on just a minute there Mr. Wolenchze!" He was beginning to lose his patients, although he knew he shouldn't. He quickly chased after the fleeing teen. "I am only trying to help YOU! I have these.these feelings and these thoughts about you that I just can't shake, like something bad. They tell me you are in trouble and need help!" He grabbed a hold of Lucas' wrist to try and stop him from leaving.
Lucas hissed in pain. "LET GO!" He tried to pull away, but was unsuccessful, he was still too weak from the beatings and lack of food and drink.
Ben didn't want to hurt him, but refused to let go. He grabbed Lucas' shirt sleeve with his other hand and pulled it up. Ben was dumbfounded at what he saw, deep ropeburns all around his wrist.
Lucas kept trying to pull away, and took his chance when Ben was stunned by what he saw on his arm. He ripped his arm out of the others grasp and took off out the door.
Ben thought to himself. -{Kid, I know you don't want anyone to get too close, but it is already too late for that! Between Bridger and me, you cann't get away. I know now what I was trying to avoid thinking about. I truly believe your dad is abusing you!}-
Lucas ran, but he didn't get too far, though. He ran smack into someone and ended up on his butt, which only sent shooting pain through his chest, back, and butt. He looked up to see who he had ran into.
"Sorry Captain!"
"That is okay Lucas," the captain spoke helping the teen up. He continued, "I was just looking for you. Come to my room, I need to ask you something."
Lucas felt his chest constrict. -{What is everyone's problem? Is it probe Lucas day! Has he been talking to Ben? What does he know? Better just wait and see, don't give anything away.}- He obediently followed the Captain back to his room and took a spot across from the Captain. He was now lounging, uncomfortably on the couch.
"What was it you wanted me for Captain?"
Bridger tried to read the blonde's face, but as usual, couldn't. "Two things, actually. First, try and keep in touch! I know you are a teen and have by now probably made some friends here, but that is no reason to go running off and not checking in."
"Yes sir, sorry." He seemed to be saying that a lot lately. If that was what the Captain believed, he would let him.
"Now with that said, I have something of somewhat a delicate matter at hand."
"Yes?" Besides everything that happened lately, this could be interesting. That was how Bridger always began something "classified" that needed to be hacked. He sat up, interested.
"Well this might be hard for you to hear."
"It's okay Captain, I can handle just about anything."
"I need you to tap into.someone's computer, so to speak. The UEO believes that he has been stealing money off them and want to find out for sure. Considering on who's computer it is, you were the only person that I have faith in to do it. I know it will be hard, but we will get through it togeth"
"Captain! Just tell me who!" He was growing impatient with all this beating around the bush.
"Your father."
Lucas sat back, stunned. He could care less about the trouble his father was in, but he did care about screwing with his father's stuff. He learned early, at age six, that you didn't mess with daddies stuff, yea it had cost him the use of his arm for about four months.
"Lucas? I can understand if you say no."
"Why didn't you tell me! You should have just been up front with me."
"Well, I didn't know tell last night. This whole thing was a set up, just so we could get at his computer, and his records."
Lucas was furious! "So you mean to tell me that I endured all of that for noth" He cut himself off.
"All of what Lucas? What are you talking about?"
"Nothing." He said quietly.
"I need to think about it."
"Of course. But I need an answer ASAP!"
"Yes sir." He stood and exited. This could be a good or bad thing for him. It would definitely be something to consider.
Little Secrets
Chapter 9:
A Proposition
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Knock. Knock. Knock.
"Ben?"
Ben opened the door, "Yes Cap?" He was in the middle of getting dressed.
"Have you seen Lucas?"
Ben got a concern, but puzzled look, "No I haven't. I went over yesterday, but he wasn't home. Come to think of it, I haven't seen him since we first got here."
"Okay, I'll keep looking for him. If you see him, tell him I'm looking for him. I have a job he needs to do."
They said their bye's and the Bridger went off in the direction of the small store.
He awoke to someone gently shaking him. He sat up with a start and immediately covered his face protectively with his arms.
"Calm thy self, my son." Spoke a gentle old voice.
Lucas put his hands down and stood. "Sorry Pastor. I uhh, had a bad night. I needed to get away and, well, just get away."
The older looked truly concerned. He felt his stomach roll. He braced himself for the answer to the question he was about to ask. "Tim, was it because of your father you had to 'get away'?"
Lucas turned a light pink. "Well, yes sir."
"Did he.did he." he couldn't bring himself to say it.
Lucas looked down. "Yes sir."
"Is that why you did not come to see me yesterday?"
"Yes sir."
"Well, come to my office and lets see the damage."
The both went into the office, Lucas sat in the chair he had sat in last time, while the pastor shut and locked the door. He went over to Lucas and kneeled in front of him.
"Well young man, show me."
"Uhh, okay. I'm sorry to bother you!"
"It is now trouble at all. Now show me."
Lucas slowly took his long sleeved shirt off, causing a small gasp from the older. He gently grabbed the boys hands and looked over his wrists.
"Sir, that is not the.problem."
Matthew looked at him, only concern showing in his eyes. Letting go of the boy so he could continue. Lucas slowly, and painfully, took his shirt off. The priest made a very loud gasp this time.
"We must get you to a doctor!"
"NO!! I mean, I can't. Someone will find out!"
"Calm thy self. We will figure something out." He Carefully inspected the boy. Looking over his black and blue chest and all the marks on his back. "I think I know someone we can trust to help you. She is an old friend of mine, and she will do you good. We have to get your.sores looked at!"
Lucas made a small nod and began to put his shirts back on. He stood and made for the door. "I can not stay too long, he will already be angry at me for leaving and not coming back."
"Well, I don't think that you should go back! You should stay with me, and then we can see about someone else taking custody of you until you are of age!" He got a hopeful look on his face.
"I'm sorry sir, I know you mean well, but I.I..just can't! He would kill me."
"I will set a cot up in my spare room, you are welcome to sleep there. I am quite sure that it is more comfortable than the pew." He lead him to another door from his office. This door lead to a small hallway, and three more doors. The first on the left was the bathroom, the first on the right was the guest room, and the second on the left was his room.
"Thank you sir! I must leave now. I will came back later." He turned to go, but stopped at the door. "Talk to you friend please, but tell as least as possible!" He left then. It was now almost supper time and he knew that no matter what, if he went home he would get a beating. He decided to go eat first, something he had not done in almost two whole days.
Knock. Knock.
He heard scuffling around inside. He quickly made sure his wrists were not showing. The door opened.
"Yes?" Ben questioned.
"Hi."
"Lucas! Where have you been! Everyone has been looking for you. Your father told us that you started a fight with him last night and then ran off. Well don't stand there, come in."
-{Yea, I'm sure he would blame it on me, but if he is looking for me then I am real deep shit! Might as well enjoy this while I can.}-
"Thanks Ben. I'm hungry, got anything to eat?"
Ben closed the door behind him and went to the kitchen. He began to make a can of Noodle-O's, remembering them to be Luke's absolute favorite.
"So Luke, where have you been?"
"I, uhh, well, I was", he was eyeing the food hungrily, "I made a friend here, and we were just hanging out and talking about.things."
"Well the Cap has also been looking for you, he says he has a job for you."
"Yea, what is it?" He sat down at the small wooden kitchen table.
"I don't know, he did not say, but it sounded kind of important." He brought the pan over in front of Lucas and set it down on a hot pad. He then went and got a bowl and spoon and gave them to the teen. "Eat up."
Lucas did not need to be told twice. He quickly poured the whole pan into his bowl, almost overflowing it, and wolfed it down. He barely stopped to breath.
Ben went and grabbed a soda from the fridge and then took a chair across from his friend. He leaned back in his chair, starring at the kid.
Lucas was so observed in eating that he didn't notice the concerned look coming over Ben's face. He finished eating and gulped down his soda quickly. "Thanks a lot Ben, but can I have some more?" -{I guess being tied to a bed and being whipped with a belt and.well, just being locked inside for that long make you kind of hungry}-
"Of course you can kiddo! Have I ever told you no?" He stood and went to the kitchen and began making some peanut-butter and jelly sandwiches. He finished, grabbed two more soda's and sat back down at the table. He gave the sandwiches and one soda to Lucas. He leaned back in his chair and began to think deeply. He saw the young teen start to inhale his food, again.
"Wow, kid, you act like you haven't eaten in days" Lucas looked up, giggled nervously, then went back to eating, making sure not to eat too fast.
"Hey Luke?"
"Yea?" He replied with a mouth full of food.
"I want you to talk to me." Lucas just looked at him, blank expression worn on his face.
"Look, I know that something is going on, and I'm not sure of what. Back at the boat, you.you really got me worrying about you. I want to finish that conversation we started." Lucas quit eating and just stared at his food, as if it would reach out and bite him, or something. Ben thought about how risky it was to push, but he had to try and reach him somehow. There had to be a reason why he had made himself obsolete for the past day or two.
He dared to continue, "Your were saying something about your dad?" He got really serious now, "I felt like you thought I would hit you, when I grabbed your shoulders." He paused, "Look, I didn't mean to scare you, and make you FLINCH, but" he got cut off.
"Look Ben, I don't know what you are trying to do, but it won't work!" He was going to try and use anger to throw his friend off. "I don't have anything to say!" He began to raise his voice. "I don't want to talk about it and you can't make me! What happens in MY life is MINE ONLY to know!" He abruptly stood and headed for the door.
"Now hold on just a minute there Mr. Wolenchze!" He was beginning to lose his patients, although he knew he shouldn't. He quickly chased after the fleeing teen. "I am only trying to help YOU! I have these.these feelings and these thoughts about you that I just can't shake, like something bad. They tell me you are in trouble and need help!" He grabbed a hold of Lucas' wrist to try and stop him from leaving.
Lucas hissed in pain. "LET GO!" He tried to pull away, but was unsuccessful, he was still too weak from the beatings and lack of food and drink.
Ben didn't want to hurt him, but refused to let go. He grabbed Lucas' shirt sleeve with his other hand and pulled it up. Ben was dumbfounded at what he saw, deep ropeburns all around his wrist.
Lucas kept trying to pull away, and took his chance when Ben was stunned by what he saw on his arm. He ripped his arm out of the others grasp and took off out the door.
Ben thought to himself. -{Kid, I know you don't want anyone to get too close, but it is already too late for that! Between Bridger and me, you cann't get away. I know now what I was trying to avoid thinking about. I truly believe your dad is abusing you!}-
Lucas ran, but he didn't get too far, though. He ran smack into someone and ended up on his butt, which only sent shooting pain through his chest, back, and butt. He looked up to see who he had ran into.
"Sorry Captain!"
"That is okay Lucas," the captain spoke helping the teen up. He continued, "I was just looking for you. Come to my room, I need to ask you something."
Lucas felt his chest constrict. -{What is everyone's problem? Is it probe Lucas day! Has he been talking to Ben? What does he know? Better just wait and see, don't give anything away.}- He obediently followed the Captain back to his room and took a spot across from the Captain. He was now lounging, uncomfortably on the couch.
"What was it you wanted me for Captain?"
Bridger tried to read the blonde's face, but as usual, couldn't. "Two things, actually. First, try and keep in touch! I know you are a teen and have by now probably made some friends here, but that is no reason to go running off and not checking in."
"Yes sir, sorry." He seemed to be saying that a lot lately. If that was what the Captain believed, he would let him.
"Now with that said, I have something of somewhat a delicate matter at hand."
"Yes?" Besides everything that happened lately, this could be interesting. That was how Bridger always began something "classified" that needed to be hacked. He sat up, interested.
"Well this might be hard for you to hear."
"It's okay Captain, I can handle just about anything."
"I need you to tap into.someone's computer, so to speak. The UEO believes that he has been stealing money off them and want to find out for sure. Considering on who's computer it is, you were the only person that I have faith in to do it. I know it will be hard, but we will get through it togeth"
"Captain! Just tell me who!" He was growing impatient with all this beating around the bush.
"Your father."
Lucas sat back, stunned. He could care less about the trouble his father was in, but he did care about screwing with his father's stuff. He learned early, at age six, that you didn't mess with daddies stuff, yea it had cost him the use of his arm for about four months.
"Lucas? I can understand if you say no."
"Why didn't you tell me! You should have just been up front with me."
"Well, I didn't know tell last night. This whole thing was a set up, just so we could get at his computer, and his records."
Lucas was furious! "So you mean to tell me that I endured all of that for noth" He cut himself off.
"All of what Lucas? What are you talking about?"
"Nothing." He said quietly.
"I need to think about it."
"Of course. But I need an answer ASAP!"
"Yes sir." He stood and exited. This could be a good or bad thing for him. It would definitely be something to consider.